r/CabinPressure • u/NeedleworkerBig3980 • Oct 14 '24

Carolyn the Medievalist?

I have a pet theory that Carolyn, at some point in her life, studied either Medieval History or Medieval Literature. On a recent re-listen, I noticed that she quotes Medieval texts now and again. Such as Julian of Norwich's "All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."

I just wanted to share my thought.

23 Upvotes

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14

u/ExpectedBehaviour Oct 14 '24

This isn't a particularly obscure quote. I think it shows that Carolyn probably had a grammar school or private education.

11

u/phoebadoeb Oct 14 '24

‘You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din’ always confused me. It’s a quote from a Kipling poem. I’m convinced that the reason no one in the audience laughed is because no one had heard that phrase before. Also I agree with the other commenter that it probably meant she had a private school education and studied texts such as that as part of the curriculum.

6

u/NeedleworkerBig3980 Oct 14 '24

She does quote Tennyson too (Ring out wild bells). I just noticed there were slightly more Medieval ones. Maybe she studied Literature more generally.

I doubt one would do Julian's Revelations, Hrostwitha or Hildegard of Bingen at A Level or below. Even in a very posh school. At least I never did. They were Uni level.

8

u/phoebadoeb Oct 14 '24

I think it’s an interesting idea! She comes from a lowly background and feels insecure about it (see Helsinki) so it could be that she uses these quotes to subconsciously boost her own sense of self-importance.

3

u/Flayan514 Oct 24 '24

She is also a fan of Dorothy Parker.

"What fresh hell is this?"